Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-29
usrER-srATE COMMERCE. LAW

The following is an extract from
the lengthy views, going the round
Of the press, OF Charles Francis Ad
ans, on said law:
"Thsre are three features of thai
bill which excite special comment
These are, first, what is known as the
long and the short haul; second, the
prohibition Of all rebates, drawbacks,
aud secret arrangements with ship.
pers; third, the prohibition Of pool
ing. think | may say that, as rail-
road commissioner, ! was almost the
father Of what Is known as the long
aud short haul clause. | have al
ways maintained that the uncontroll-
ed competition Of railroads was a
great evil. Il had the necessary ten
dsnoy Of concentrating business at
given points and in few hands. The
geographical point which did not
have the advantage Of railroad COM
petition could not hold its own
against tho point which did have that
advantage. So, also, the man who
controlled . large business. The
traffic Of the large shipper would al
ways be sought for on terms more adj
vantagcous than the smaller shipper
could command. As a commissioner
! always maintained that this WAS
wrong; as a railroad president ! main
tain it Is wrong to-day. Therefore !
am by no means prepared to admit
that the Interstate bill is likely to
produce any serious or injurious re-
sults, when Il says that no railroad
company shall charge moro for a
shorter haul than il does for longer
haul. which 10 included in the longer
haul under conditions substantially
the same. ! want TO see this proyis-
ion Of the act brought into practical
operation. am not afraid OF it. II
II substantially just, aud when thing
is substantially just il is right, and
when il Is right it should be law. But
Il ID unnecessary to say that the whole
question will come up for decision on
tho SCOPE TO be given to those FIVE
verbs, s'under conditions substantial.
" the same.' In them there is much
labor cut out for tho commission, and
they are big with litigation for the
courts and fees for the lawyers.
As respects the mex. debated pro.
vision, that prohibiting rebates, draw
backs and secret arrangements, do
not hesitate to put myself on record
as saying that this is right, and should
be law, aud II 1t has not been law be-
fore, am glad it is now. No one
has suffered more than the railroads
themselves from this system OF re-
bates and drawbacks and secret ar
engagements. 1t has been crying
wrong. II should have been RENE
died years ago. II is well that it is
about to be remedied now.
And as one phase OF this question
comes up the matter Of free passes.
As respects them havo long been
on record. | hold that the free pass
system on the railroads OF the coun.
try is an outrageous abuse, and that
the most radical remedy should be mp.
piled to it. think, IL the most rad
Isal remedy were applied, nothing
but good would flow therefrom. How
absurd it is that whole classes OF per-
SONS should habitually travel for moth
ing, while others are compelled to
pay. Neither would any human be-
ing find fault with a positive prohi-
oition OF the system Of transportation.
Provided that every one knew that
his neighbor paid MS well as himself,
none would find fault. have, there. |
lore, done the little | could to get the !!
railroads to seize this great opportu. |
nifty to get rid of an abuse, the mag.
nitude OF which few people realize.
Unfortunately, loop-hole for escape |
$ left open, aud | fear that the rail. |
-oads, unequal to the occasion, will
wall themselves OF it. The law APP
plies only to travel through the states.
Travel limited to any single State is
,ot Affected by il. 1t is in tho pow.
", ,herefore, OF railroad corporations
operating lines between states and
erritories to issue any number of
passes they see fit, provided only that
hey read "good between points in
uch aud such state, or in such and
uch territory" II is mean and
'ontemptible evasion. Nevertheless,
is legal evasion, aud have small
rope that the railroad companies will
AVE tina wisdom not m sxa; 49,